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Trail clearing – Global service
Parents as practice
Vegetarianism and Buddhism
Sacrifice and renunciation
Facing failure without guilt and not judging others
Four vows – impossibility
Saving all beings
Shopping as the bodhisattva way
Alcohol
E-Prime
Language – how words affect our reality
I must sit/I want to sit/I have the opportunity to sit
Klingon as E-Prime
Bendowa – using different translations
Be kind – rewind.

Back from a long hiatus at the Teaparty I am pleased to have visited with my old friends, and treeleaf brothers.

This weeks report- In attendance: Hogo, Dosho, Fugen, Nengyo, Yugen, and of course all of you with us in spirit and practice.
Topics discussed today: (as always a pleasant mix of the serious and the silly)

Dosho lost his glasses - probably Fugens fault.
Ease of transitioning from online practice to face to face during recent retreat.
Value of practicing together in person if possible
Next summers retreat with Taigu.
Study and cadavers
How Zen makes you a weeping seal Lover
Confusing others with kindness and patience
Kids
Spouses and Zen practice
Goats as presents...... (you had to be there)
Tradition of giving trees as gift when visiting another Zendo.
Sewing for Ango / Kesa colors and different schools of Zen.
Ranks and Non-ranks, hierarchy in Zen.
a lovely poetry reading by Yugen: The art of disappearing by Naomi Shihab Nye

The Art of Disappearing

When they say Don't I know you?
say no.

When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.

If they say We should get together
say why?

It's not that you don't love them anymore.
You're trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven't seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don't start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

Walk around feeling like a leaf.
Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time.

Troubles with Google+
Treeleaf forum and beginners mind
Samadhi and not dropping weights on feet
Jundoing and the priests of Treeleaf
Switching things of life
More to life than money
Responsibility
Arriving
Tea and teaparties

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

Sewing
Jukai
Tea
Tolerance of Brown Rakusus
No Bite, But a Win!
August Retreat
Attitudes of People Under 30: What's the Big Deal?
Using Internet Too Much?
What Weapons You Have In The Car
Anatomy Lessons
If You Could See Any Movie On The Big Screen...
Why Isn't Everyone a Zen Buddhist?

Gassho,
Dosho

Ordained Priest -In-TrainingPlease take what I say with a grain of salt,
especially in matters of the Dharma!

Tea Party Notes from 15 DEC 13 :
Rakusus and air mail
Rohatsu and oryoki
Snacking during retreat and the precepts
Dogen wasn't a dentist
Blood sugar and protein deficiency related headaches
Medical student disease
Macbeth or the Scottish play
Oreoki recipes (three bowls and enlighten in the kitchen)
Wasting food and Monastery eating
Storm troopers, darth vader, and charity
Time keeping for zazen
Oreoki related injuries
The zazen of dogs and dog behavior
Fitting the retreat into life
How to make a diagnosis and first aid treatment
Movie realism in various technical fields
Consciousness and brain workings

I'll dish since that topic was my fault. I tripped while carrying a tray of rice and miso soup for first oryoki on the second day of the retreat. I was right next to the bed and directly over my zafu and zabuton. I really did not want to soak any of these nice padded surfaces with a quart of miso soup, so I fell to my knees to catch myself.

This maneuver "worked" in that I didn't spill a drop of soup. But my left knee took quite a beating. I sat most of the second day with an icepack on it, and ended up moving to a chair near the end of the retreat.

At least I had turned the camera off, so there was nothing to see but a pained look (presumably) when I joined oryoki ON TIME and with a FULL BOWL of soup!

I'll dish since that topic was my fault. I tripped while carrying a tray of rice and miso soup for first oryoki on the second day of the retreat. I was right next to the bed and directly over my zafu and zabuton. I really did not want to soak any of these nice padded surfaces with a quart of miso soup, so I fell to my knees to catch myself.

This maneuver "worked" in that I didn't spill a drop of soup. But my left knee took quite a beating. I sat most of the second day with an icepack on it, and ended up moving to a chair near the end of the retreat.

At least I had turned the camera off, so there was nothing to see but a pained look (presumably) when I joined oryoki ON TIME and with a FULL BOWL of soup!

Deep bows (while trying not to fall over),
Eric

Oh Eric, I sorry to hear about your knee that is no good - I hope it is on the mend. =) But good job on saving the miso and zafu ... wet butt zazen is not always so much fun. I remember a retreat I was at about 3 years ago and was walking with food and was so focused on not spilling it I walked right into the door jam - needless to say I smelled like tomato soup for a bit.

Gassho
Shingen

倫道 真現

As a trainee priest, please take any commentary by me on matters of the Dharma with a pinch of salt.

Thanks Shingen, yes it is all better. The whole thing was more comical than anything.

I think your story contains some lesson about the difference between a concentrated single pointed mind (object of attention: soup) and an open expansive mind (which contains door jams). The teachings are EVERYWHERE...

Attendance at the Treeleaf teaparties
Attendace at the Treeleaf forum
Dharma
Different paths up the mountain
Switching lane
”When the finger points at the moon, the fool stares at the finger”
Separating things, ”that's a tiger and i should run...”
New year resolutions and Angocomittments
Getting rid of things and letting go of things
Important things
Books & records
The Marketmonster
Vegetarian food
Not getting enough to eat
Economics and good stuff
IT and Techstuff (don't speak the language...)
The significance and civility of Treeleaf and the Treeleaf Teaparty
The significance of real photos of avatars and signing off with Gassho
Jukai
Rakusus and robes

Fugen,
Thanks for hosting the Teaparty.... I know during the holidays a lot of folks (myself included) are busy with family commitments. The fact that you faithfully show up and make yourself available is much appreciated. Deep bows to you.

Gassho
Yugen

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

Banana
oryoki circle
Microphones
Retreat
Voices
Where are you from?...
What do you say when asked about Treeleaf?
Fugen is a star!
Dharma
Landing a man on the sun
Tea
Tips for sitting
Star trek & star wars
Why kenobi was ready to become a jedi
Buddhist movies